Gauging mechanism



Aug. 26,1930. J. M. HOTHERSALL 1,774,012

' GAUGINQ MECHANISM Filed 'Nov, 25, 1928 Sheets-Sheet 1 \0 N m m %m* Me8%; (2. 42 mm N ATTORNEY O Q v Aug. 26, 1930.

J. M. HofHERsALL 1,774,012

GAUGING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1928 1D LO ATTORNEYAug. 26, 1930. J. M. HOTHERSALL 1,774,012

GAUGING MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 23, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 108 IO'IINQEXNTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1930 Usrrsn srArs PATENT oFFic JOHNM. HOTHEBSALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGINOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY caverns MECHANISMApplication filed November 23, 1928. Serial No. 321,364.

This invention relates to a gaugingand checking attachment for pressesand particularly to a device of'this character whlch will accurately andpositively position and hold an irregular shaped-piece of sheet materialfor a press operation; I

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a simple andefficient gauging and checking device, fully automatic ino its operationand readily adaptable to any standard form of press which will receivein any one of a number of possible positions a plece of sheet material,non-symmetrical as to, either or both its horizontala axis or its:

vertical 3 axis and properly place and hold the same within the pressoperating elements,

such gauging and checking actionbeing auto-,

matically determined by the outline or shape of the piece'of materialand the relative position-in which it is-received;

A further important object of the invenlien is the provision of agauging-and checking device which is operatedin connection with anautomatic press feeding mechan sm and one which will perform itsoperations of gauging and checking during the travel of the piece ofsheet material from a rece vlng position to the press operatingelements.

' Another and'highly important Ob ect of the invention is the provisionof a gauging and checking device for operation upon a piece of sheetmaterial, which consists of a minimum number of working parts and one inwhich movement of the parts occurs by reason of direct connection withthe automatic press feeding mechanism. The invention contemplates a newprinciple of gauging and checking whereby a definite shape of a piece'ofsheet material capa le of only. one correct'axial position w thin thepress operating elements is placed 1n this correct position, regardlessof how it 1s received within the apparatus, which may be in one of anumber of possible axial positions, this variety of possible receivingpos1-- in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3.3 in Fig. l; vFig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view I tions being dependent uponthe non-symmetrical character of the piece of sheet ma terial and thepromiscuous manner of introducing the same'into the machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description,

press feeding devices connected therewith,

parts being broken away to more clearly illus- :-tr'ate the apparatus; i

"Fig. 2 ma longitudinal sectional View of the press mechanism andfeeding devices, the

view being taken alongthe broken line 22 of a portion of the feedmechanism, the View being taken along the l1neti in Fig. 2;

Figs. 5,6, and 7 are fragmentary plan views of thelower parts of thepress mechanism and the press feeding and gauging devices associatedtherewith, said views showing the piece of sheet material in difi erentpositions.

- In some classes of sheet metalmanufacture V the entire sheet ofmaterial used for the manufacture of a particular ob ect is not utilizedary for manufacturers to subsequently feed such pieces into some form ofpress mechanism for obtaining smaller objects known as piece ofsheetmaterial such as is obtained during the blanking of strips used in themanufacture of tin can parts. In such blanking operation a sheet ofmaterial is cut into strips and two small-scrap pieces are removed fromthe ends of alternate strips. Such a scrap piece therefore throughoutthe present description and also in the claims will be referred to asanend piece. 7

Such an end piece is non-syi'nmetrical as to both its horizontal an axisand its vertical 1 axis and is selected for purposes of illustrating thepresent invention because of its nonsymmetrical character. The principleof the present invention, however, has a broader apilication and isequally well adapted to the gauging and checking of other shaped piecesof material which may or may not be nonsymmetrical as to both axes.

The horizontalor axis referred to is an imaginary axis,.designated inthe drawings by the line 00w and is the axis which must be brought intocoincidence with the long tudinal center of the cutting die parts of thepress operating elements in order toobtain the recovery from the endpiece with the greatest efficiency of cutting. In like manner,

, the vertical y axis, which is designated in the drawings by the line g1 is an ima inary axis which must be brought into coincidence with thetransverseor lateral center of said die parts. r

'An" end piece 21 as disclosed in the drawings has a relatively narrowedgea opposite an edge 0 on different sidesof the x axis, and a notchededge, I) opposite an edge a) on clifferent sides of the y axis. in themachine of the present invention the end piece 21 may be introduced inany one of four different positions and the gauging and checking devicewill operate automatically to properly present said piece to the saiddie parts as will be fully explained.

In Fig. 1 the end piece 21 disclosed at the left hand side is in one ofthese positions,

edge a being toward the too of he sheet, edge the left hand side. 11second position is illustrated in Fig. 5 where the end piece 21 hasits 0edge at the top, its (Z edge at the left hand side. Fig. 6 discloses theend piece 21 in 'a third position, this being with its 0 edge at the topand its L) edge at the left. in the fourth possible position,illustrated in Fig. 7, the a edge is toward the top, the b edge towardthe left.

This varietyof positions in which the end piece 21 is received meansthat the gauging and checking devices must variously shift (laterallyand longitudinally) said end piece it brings the same in propercoincidence relative to the die parts. As viewed in the drawings, thetop edge of said end piece 21 and the left or rear edge of he sameconstitute the edges of reference, that is to say, these are the edgesfirst engaged in gauging.

-Referring to Fig. 2, the press comprises a supporting frame or bolsterplate 22 which acts as a support, not only for the press mechanism butalso for the feeding mechanism and the gauging and checking devices. Adie block 23 is mounted upon and carried by the bolster plate 22 and inturn supports a die plate 24 which carries a cut edge 25 of the dieparts of the press operating elements.

he cut edge 25, die plate 2 1 and die block 23 are held in fixedposition on the bolster plate by means of bolts 26 (see 1). A formingpad 27 is mounted for slight vertical movement interiorly of the cutedge 25 and carries the ordinary pins 28 passing through a rubber buffer29 and extending down through the die plate 24. The parts 23, 24., 25,27, 28 and 29 constitute an ordinary standard type of die mechanism of apunch press.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the punch members of the press operatingelements are carried by a punch block 31 mounted on any form of standardslide 32 which is raised and lowered in usual manner by mechanism notshown. The punch block 31 carries a punch member or male die 83 which isformed witha cut edge 34 and an interior panel block 35 which alsoconstitutes a knockout pad. The knockout pad is independently raised andlo vered by a reciprocating knockout rod 36 operating within the punchmember 33.

By cooperation of the punch cut edge 34 and the die cut edge 25, thepiece 21 is operated upon to form any suitable recovery piece 37. Asdisclosed in Fig. 2, the said piece 37 as formed by the cooperation ofthe puncl and die parts is raised with the raising of the punch member.The remaining skeleton 38 of the piece 21 is stripped from the cut edge34 of the punch by means of a chute l1 supported by uprights 12 securedto the bolster plate 22. Upon operation of the knockout pad 35, theformed recovery piece 37 is forced outwardly from the punch and fallsinto the chute 4L1 from which it is delivered.

It is customary in presses of the type illustrated for the upper surfaceof the die to be at an angle to the horizontal, an in like mannor: thepunch menrber operates along a line which is at an angle to thevertical. lhis relatively inclined position is illustrated in Fig. 3wherein the piece 21 is shown at a distinct angle to the horizontal. Bythis positioning of operating parts of the press, the work will fall bygravity onto the inclined s rface of the chute ll and will not fallthrough a clearance opening 13 2) in the floor of the chute 41. Thisclearance opening permits free movement of the punch membertherethrough.

Mounted upon'the bolster plate 22 is a bracket 44 which extends to oneside of the die mechanism and is formed with parallel spaced side walls15. The upper part of the bracket constitutes a feed table 46 over whichthe pieces 21 are adapted to be moved as they are introduced into theapparatus and are fed to the press operating elements. A primary feedingdevice and a secondary feeding device are mounted for operation betweenthe side walls 45 of the bracket 44, the former acting as a means forintroducing the end pieces 21'upon the table 46 and the latter con-.stituting an automatic feed for the said pieces to the punch and diemechanism of the press operating elements. A

The primary feed embodies a chain conveyor 47 operating over an"idlersprocket 48 rotatably mounted on a'horizontal shaft 49 secured insuitabl-ejbearings 51 formed in the table 46, and over a drive sprocket52' secured to a drive shaft 53 mounted for rotation within'bearings 54formed in the side walls 45 of the bracket 44 (see Figs. 3 and 4). Thedrive sprocket 52 is constantlyrotated in any suitable manner, notshown.

' The chain conveyor. 47 carriesa series of spaced flights 55. The outerend of the chain conveyor 47 passes over any suitable idler sprocket,not shown, which'may ormay not be a part of an independent machine, The

upper run of the chain conveyor 47 moves within a slot 56 formed in thetable 46 and is in alignment with the upper surface of the table 46. Endpieces 21 are fed totheupper surface of the chain conveyor 47 in anysuitable manner and in any one of the four positions previouslymentioned, a flight 55 of saidconveyor engaging and moving a said piecetoward the right, as viewed in'Figs. 1 and2. j v r As the end piece 21is moved towardthe right and over the upper surface of the table 46 bythe chain conveyor 47, it reaches a'point wherethe chain passesdownwardly 'over the sprocket 48 and clears the rear edge ofthe said endpiece 21. ;At this point the end piece is engaged by the secondaryfeeding mechanismxfor' further movement through the apparatus. Thesecondary feeding apparatus comprises a slide member 57 formed withoppositely projecting shoulders 58 op, erating within longitudinal slots59 formed in'the table 46 (see Fig. 3). The slide 57 carries a pair ofspaced spring-held dogs61 pivotally mounted thereon and normally heldwith their front edges raised above the surface of the table by means ofleaf springs 62. The forward part of the chain conveyor-47 extendsforwardly of the end of, the slide member 57 when the latter is in rearposition and said slide 57 is slotted at 60 to prevent interference. g

As the end piece 21 is released from the, ac-

tion of the chain conveyor 47 the slide 57 p is in the rear position,this being toward the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position,one of the spring dogs 61 is adjacent. the rear edge of the said endpiece and upon the next forward movement of the slide 57 and the dog 61.the said piece-21 is moved toward the right. As illustrated in Fig. 1,the piece 21 is being released from-the infiuence of one of the flights55 of the chain conveyor 47,'and the lower'rear dog 61 is directly backof the edge d of the said piece 21. If a said piece 21 is brought intothe apparatus in a different position; for example, 'if the edge 0 isupward and the edge 5 in the rear, theupper dog'61 would be adjacent'therear edgeb.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the slide 57 is connected at itsforwar-d endto a block 63, which carries a horizontal shaft'64 forming a pivotalconnection with a link 65, pivotally secured to the upper end of a lever66, in turn plvoted upon a fixed stud 67 carried by one of the sidewalls 45 of the bracket v44. The V I drive shaft 53 is a crank shafthaving a crank portion 71; located between the bearings 54. Thelever66'is pivotally connected at 68 with a connecting bar6 9 whichembraces the crank portion 71 of the shaft 53. Rotation of the driveshaft'53 through the described connections reciprocates the lever 66 andby means of its connectionwith the slide 57 causesthe latter to move.back and forth within the guidewa-ys of the table 46 formedby the slots59. 3 c

The forward endof the slide 57 carries a pair of spaced spring-presseddogs'73 pivoted at 74 so that their forward edges will normally be heldabove the surface of the table 46by means of leaf springs75 (see Figs.land 2'); With the slide 57 in its rear p osi' tion, the spring-presseddogs 73 are at the left of an end piece 21' which has previously beenmoved from itsfirst'received position 1' into its second position. 3 e

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the first received position A is where thesaid end piece 21 is brought to rest by the action of the chain conveyor47. Station B indicates the position where the end piece 21 is broughtto rest after a forward reciprocation ofcthe slide -57-and after one" ofthe dogs 61 has engaged the rear edge of the said end piece and carriedit with the forward travel of the slide 57, toward the'right, as viewedin the drawings. C indicates the third position of operation takes placeas the end piece is conveyed from station E to station C.

The end piece 21 atrest at station is engaged by one of the dogs 73' andmoved .46 and the upper surface of the slide 57, which is inclinedaccording to the inclination of the upper surface of the die parts ofthe press, as'previously described, the upper edge of the strip 21, asshown in Fig. 1, rests by gravity against a sliding bar 76 whichconstitutes a part of the gauging and checking device, which will behereinafter more fullyexplained. I

Asthe end 'piece21 is conveyed over the surface of the table 46, itpasses beneath a top guide rail 77 carried by a yoke 78, the arms 79 ofwhich are pivoted about a stub shaft 81"carried by a bracket 82 held bybolts 83 to the rear wall 45 of the bracket 44 (see Figs. 1 and Theweight of the yoke 78 and the top guide rail 77 is sufiicient at alltimes tohold the end pieces 21 down against the upper surface of thetable 46 and t-he'slide 57 during the movement of the said :en-dpieces21,.fromlstations A to B. and stations B to'C. s

As the slide 57'1noves backward,-the for wa rd dogs 78 pass beneath oneof the end pieces 21 positioned at station 15 and the rear dogs 61 passbeneath one of the end pieces 21 held at stat-ion A. During this passingof the respective dogs beneath the positioned end pieces 21, therespectivesprings 62 and permit pivoting of the said dogs 61 and 73 andthefoiwvard edges of the same are depressed suiiicient to clear thepositioned end pieces. To prevent rearmovement of the end piece 21 fromthe station 13 during tl e backward movement of the said slide 57, thereis provided a spring-pressed dog 84 pivoted at 85 to the top guiderail'77, a leaf spring 86 permitting depression of the said dog duringthe forward movement of the end piece 21 therebeneath. Said dog 84 andits associated parts are illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and infull lines in Fig. 1.

. The gauging and checking devices consist of working parts moving withthe forward movement of theend piece 21 and engaging certain edges ofthe end piece accoiiung to its relative position, wherebv the end pieceis shifted laterally and longitudinally relative to the gaugin andchecking device until the said end piece is brought into an exactaligned position at station C. In the mechanical arts the term checkingrelates to the final accurate positioning of an object after the samehas been roughly positioned by gauging devices; In thepresent use of theterms gauging and checking devices, the gauging of the end piecedescribes generally the moving and rough positioning of the said endpiece, and the term checking describes, the final, ex act, and accuratealignment of the same relative to the die mechanism.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the shaft 64 is extended toward the rear sidewall 45 of the bracket 44 and is pivotally engaged by the hub 87 of astem 88 secured to asliding plate 89 having movement over an auxiliarysurface 91 of the table 46. A slot 92 formed in the surface 91 permitsmovement of the stem 88 back and forth with the reciprocating movementof the slide 57. A guide bar 98 is secured on the surface 91 of thetable 46 by means of screws 94'and is spaced from a shoulder 95 formedin the table 46 adjacent the surface 91 and constitutes a slideway forthe plate 89, and also for the sliding bar 7 6 which is secured thereto.The upper ed 'e of the bar 76 during such movement slides with in agroove formed in a bar 90 supported by the bracket 82.

The gauging and checking device is mounted upon the sliding plate 89 andtherefore, moves in unison with the moving of the slide 57 of thesecondary feeding mechanism, arms 96 and 97 thereof being pivotallymounted on a stud 98 carried by the sliding plate 89 (see Fig. A collar99 is keyed by a pin 100 to the upper end of the stud 98 and preventsdisplacement of the said arms 96 and 97. The arm 96 carries a projection101 and an extension 102 on which is mounted a cam following roller 108pivoted about a pin 104 A coil spring 105 extends between a pin 106carried by the arm 96 and the pin 100, and tends to hold said arm 96 inwhat will be termed a a closed position.

The arm 97 carries a pin 107 forming a pivot for a. finger 108 adaptednormally to rest against one end of the arm 97. The finger 108 alsocarries a cam following roller 109 pivoted about a pin 111. Said linger108 is held in normal position by means of a spring 112 extendingbetween a pin 118 carried by the arm 97 and a pin 114 carried by thelinger 108. The arm 97 is normally held in closed position relative tothe pivot pin 98 by means of a spring 115 extending between a pin 116carried by the arm 97 and the pin 100.

By meansof the described parts 96 and 97 and the associated mechanism,it should be evident that the gauging and checking device consists ofmovable members bodily carried with the sliding movement of the plate 89and independently movable about the pivot pin 98 against the actions ofthe springs 105 and 115 carried by the respective arms 96 and 97.

When the slide 57 is in its rear position, the sliding plate 89 is alsoin a rear position and the arms 96 and 97 carried thereby are rarepositioned at the station E as illustrated in Fig. 1. At such time, thecam rollers 103 and 109 of the respective arms 96 and 97 have engagedan. outer cam face 117 formed on the guide bar 93 and in such positionthe arms 96 and 97 are held against the action of the springs-105 and115 in an open position where the projection 101 of the arm 96 and thefinger 108- associated with the arm 97 are out of contact with the upperedge of the end piece 21. In this open position, the forward extremityof the projection 101 and the finger 108 are back of the forward face ofthe sliding bar 76, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. It should beunderstood that the projection 101 of the arm 96 is freely movablewithinja slot 118 out through the sliding bar 76, as indicated in Figs.1 and 3. Starting from the position illustrateclin Fig. 1, the end piece21 at station B,.whichrests by-gravity with its upper edge 0 against thesliding bar 76, will be the end of arm 97 by means of spring 112- andboth finger 108 and arm 97 move as a unit. As the forward movementcontinues,

the cam following roller 103 passes over the incline 119 and in similarmanner the spring 105 draws the arm 96 downward, it also pivotingaboutthe pivot pin 98. -This moving of the arms 96 and 97 causes engagementof parts of the said arms with the end piece 21 as the same ispositioned within the die mechanism of the press operating elements.Inasmuch as the result of, this movement of the arms96 and 97 upon endpiece'21 differs according to the different-positions of the same, theaction upon an end piece in three different positions will now bedescribed in connection with Figs. 5,6, and 7.

At the station C, the arms 96 and 97-assume their closed positionsirrespective of the different gauging results on the end pieces 21. InFig. 5 there is illustrated an end piece 21 positioned with its- 00 axisin align-. ment with the longitudinal central axis of j the cut edge 25of the die mechanism. At such time the projection 101 is in engagementwith an inclined surface 6 joining the edges d and 0, and the finger 108held by the spring 112 in locked position against the edge of the arm 97has engaged a slotted edge f joining the edges 1) and 0.

The outer extremity of the finger 108 resting within the slot ofthe endpiece 21 and the outer extremity of the projection 101 resting againstthe inclined surface 6 of the said end piece properly positions thelatter longitudinally overthe die parts. The upper dog 7 3 duringv thisgauging action forms the reference point for the rear edge a; of the endpiece 21 and in' such positionthe y axis of the said end pieceis broughtinto proper coordination with the vertical. central axis of the cut edge25'of the press mechanism. At such time, the lower edge a of. the endpiece 21 is positioned against a side guide rail 121 secured by screws122 to the upper surface of the table 46. This guide rail is not engagedby the end piece 21 as it is moved along the upper surface of the table41-6 through stations A and B, inasmuch as gravity tends at all times tohold the said end piece 21 with its'edge 0 against the sliding bar 76,as previously described.

Where the end piece 21 is brought into the apparatus with its edge 0against the bar 76 and its rear edge I) engaged by the feed dog 7 3, theoperation of the gauging and checking device is slightly different. Inthe final gauged-position of the saidend piece 21 at the station C, thenotched edge 7 is engaged by the outer extremity of thevprojection- 101and the outer extremity of the finger 108 engages the inclined face 6 ofthe said end piece 21. At such time, the edge a is brought into contactwiththe guide rail 121.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, when an end piece 21'is positioned as justdescribed, the finger 108 is caused to pivot about the point 111 againstthe action of the spring 112 andthe face of the said finger 108 iswithdrawn from the forward edge of the arm 97. In this held position,the an axis of the strip 21 coincides with the longitudinal center ofthe cut edge 25 of the die mechanism and the 3/ axis of the sameproperly cooperates with the vertical center of the said out edge. Theupper dog 7 3 in this position engages the r'ear edge 5 of the endpiece21. i i

' Where the end piece21 is received into the apparatus with its edge aresting against the bar 76,the gauging and checking device will assume'aslightly different relation relative thereto. As the end piece 21 isproperly positioned over the die mechanism at the stationC under suchcircumstances, there Is no shifting of the longitudinal center wrelative to the bar 76, and the edge a of the end piece 21 remains'incontact with said bar. This condition properly positions the end piece21 with its-m axis in alignment with the longitudinalcenter of the cutedge 25 of the die mechanism and no longitudinal shifting of the endpiece 21 takes place. The lateral position of the end piece under thesecircumstances is insured by the cooperation of the in ner face of thefinger 108 engaging a straight edge 9 of the end piece 21, and the lowerifeed dog 73 engaging the edge 6. During this gauging operation, itshould be evident that the projection 101 does not operate in any mannerupon the end piece 21, there being no engagement of the said projectionwith any edge of the said end piece;

There is also a fourth position Which the end piece 21 can occupy as itis moved through stations A, B, and C. This position as occupied by theend piece 21 at the station A is illustrated in Fig. 1. The upper edge aof the end piece in such position is held by gravityagainst the slidingbar 76 andthe rear edge (Z is moved by the lower set of dogs- 61 and 7 3as the end piece moves from station Avto station B, and later fromstation B to station C. The finalposition at station 0 of the end piece21 is very similar to the position of the end piece illustrated in Fi 7.The 00 aXisis in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the diemechanism and the y axis is aligned With the vertical axis of the dieapparatus by cooperation of the lower feed dog 73 engaging tne edge (Zof the strip 21 and the finger 108 held in normal position against thearm 97 by the spring 112 engages an edge 72, of the said end piece. Atsuch a time the arm'96 is in the same position as is shown in F1 7 andthe am ection 101 theree a l of 1s out of contact but ad acent to theedge 9 of the end piece.

It 1s thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoingdescription, and it Will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrange ment of the parts Without departing from the spirit and score ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. 0

' Iclaim: 7

1. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, feeding means for receiving non-symmetricalendpieces in any one of a number of different positions and moving thesameto said press operating elements, and gauging and checking devicesfor positioning said end pieces into said press operatingelen1entsaccordingto the position of said end pieces.

2. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, feeding means for receiving non-symmetricalend pieces in any one of a number of different positions and moving thesame to said press operating elements, and gauging and checking devicesfor simultaneously positioning said end pieces into said press operatingelements according to the position of said end pieces.

3. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, afeed table for receiving nonmoving said endpieces along the feed table to the press operating elements, and gaugingand checking devices for positioning said end pieces into said pressoperatingelements according to the received position of said end pieces.

4. In a guaging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, feeding means for first receiving end piecesnon-symmetrical as to their in and y axes and in different axialrelation to said feeding means, and second, moving said end pieces tosaid press operating elements and gauging and checking devices forpositioning said end pieces into proper axial coordination With the saidpress operating elements.

5. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, a feed table for receiving nonsymmetrical endpieces in any one of a number of different positions, primary feedingmeans for placing said end pieces upon said table, secondary feedingmeans for moving said end pieces along the table to said press operatingelements, and gauging and checking devices for positioning said endpieces into said press operating elements according to the receivedposition of said end pieces.

6. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating'elements, a feed table for receiving nonsymmetrical endpieces in any one of a number of different positions, primary feedingmeans for placing said. end pieces upon said table, secondary feedingmeans for moving said end pieces along the table to said press operatingelements, and gauging and checking devices, simultaneously operatingwith the operation of said. secondary feeding means, for positioningsaid end pieces into said press operating elements according to thereceived position of said end pieces.

7. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, a feed table for receiving nonsymmetrical endpieces in any one of a number of different positions, continuouslyoperating feeding means for placing said end pieces upon said table,reciprocating feeding means for moving said end pieces along the tableto said press operating elements, and gauging and checking devices forpositioning said end pieces into said press operating elements accordingto the received position of said end pieces.

8. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operat ing elements, a feed table for receiving nonsyn'nnetricalend pieces in any one of a number of different positions, feeding meansfor moving said end pieces along the feed table to the press operatingelements, and gauging and checking devices moving with said feedingmeans and With a said end piece carried thereby for laterally andlongitudinally shifting said end piece during such movement to place thesame into said press operating elements in a-one proper position.

9. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, a feed table for receiving nonsymmetrical endpieces in any one of anumber of different positions, feeding means formoving said end pieces along the feed table to the press operatingelements, and gauging and checking devices comprising a plurality ofpivotal arms moving With said feeding means and With a said end piececarried thereby for laterally and longitudinally shifting said end pieceduring such movement for placing the same into said press operatingelements in a one properposition.

10. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, a feed table for receiving nonsymmetrical endpieces in any one of a number of different positions, feeding means formoving said end pieces along the feed table to the press operatingelements, and gauging and checking devices comprising a plurality ofpivotal arms moving With said feeding means and with a said end piececarried thereby, said arms having projections movable into contact Withsaid end piece for laterally and longitudinally shifting the same andplacing it into said press operating elements in a one proper position.

11. In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, a feedtable for receiving non-symmetricalendpieces in any one of a number of different positions, feeding meansfor moving said end pieces along the feed table to the press operatingelements, gauging and checking devices 'comprisinga plurality of pivotalarms moving With said feed-v ing means and With a said end piece carriedthereby, and cam means for holding said arms out of the path of travelof said end piece as the same is brought adjacent said arms butpermitting pivotal action of said arms during the forward movementthereof to cause projections carried by said arms to move into contactwith said end piece and laterally and longitudinally shift the same andplace it into said press operating elements in a one properposition.

12 In a gauging and checking attachment for a press, the combination ofpress operating elements, a feed table for receiving non-symmetrical endpieces in any one of a number of different positions, feeding means formoving said end pieces along the feed table to the press opera-tingelements, and gauging and checking devices for laterally andlongitudinally shifting said end

